Travel with Children

With its abundance of national parks, beaches, swimming pools and hiking trails suitable for a wide range of competencies, plus a good collection of museums and a handful of amusement parks, South Africa offers plenty for children of all ages in hazard-free settings.

Best Regions for Kids

Cape Town

Botanical gardens, an aquarium, the Table Mountain cable car, beaches, Greenmarket Square market, harbour cruises, activities, good facilities and a relaxed atmosphere – the vibrant Mother City is a superb family destination.

Western Cape

Surrounding Cape Town, the Western Cape has good infrastructure as well as stunning scenery. Near the city, the Winelands offers numerous family-friendly wine estates, markets and attractions. Further afield, Garden Route spots such as Mossel Bay and Nature's Valley are particularly well set up for family holidays, with beaches and activities galore.

KwaZulu-Natal

Durban has beaches, one of the world's largest aquariums and hot weather. The sandy fun continues along the surrounding Indian Ocean coastline, with activities from whale watching to kayak safaris in iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Head inland for walking and camping opportunities in the stunning Drakensberg.

South Africa for Kids

Most South Africans are welcoming to children, and you will probably receive many offers of assistance. Get used to passing your child around like a curio; they will excite much interest and attention, particularly in rural and traditional parts of the country.

Supplies

Merry Pop Ins (www.merrypopins.co.za) in central Cape Town sells used clothes, furniture and equipment for children from newborns to 12-year-olds.

Transport

Most car-rental agencies can provide safety seats, but you'll need to book them in advance and usually pay extra.

Distances can be vast (the bus from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth takes 12 hours), so try to stagger journeys where possible.

Tourist-class trains with private sleeper compartments, such as the 27-hour trans-Karoo service from Jo'burg to Cape Town, have ample space and dining cars.

Health

Breastfeeding in public won't raise an eyebrow among many Africans, but in other circles it's best to be discreet.

Overall there are few health risks, and should your child become ill, good-quality medical care is available in the cities.

Avoid government hospitals where possible and use private hospitals.

Mediclinic (www.mediclinic.co.za) operates private hospitals from Cape Town to Limpopo.

Seek medical advice about vaccinations months before your trip; not all are suitable for children or pregnant women.

Specifically, seek medical advice on malaria prophylactics for children if you'll be in malarial areas (including Kruger National Park and the lowveld).

Think twice before taking young children to malarial areas and try to visit in the winter, when the risk of mosquito bites is lower.

Regardless of malaria, insect bites can be painful, so come prepared with nets, repellent and suitable clothing.

Swimming in streams should generally be avoided, due to the risk of bilharzia (schistosomiasis) infection.

In drought-struck areas such as Cape Town, drink bottled or treated water in preference to tap water.

Immigration Regulations

Since 2015 all children under 18 years travelling to South Africa have been required to show an unabridged birth certificate (UBC) in addition to their passport. If you do not have one already, UBCs are easy to apply for in most Western countries; unlike abridged birth certificates, they show the parents' details.

If one or neither parent is travelling with a child, the new immigration regulations ask for paperwork over and above the UBC, namely an affidavit giving permission for the child to travel, a court order in some cases and a death certificate if a parent is deceased. Where only one parent’s particulars appear on the UBC or equivalent document, no parental consent affidavit is required when that parent travels with the child. The controversial new regulations, which, according to the Department of Home Affairs, are designed to combat child trafficking, have received immense opposition and may possibly be relaxed in the future.

For further information and updates, check www.brandsouthafrica.com, www.home-affairs.gov.za, or with your government's travel advisory or your airline.

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